Call for proposals: ‘I Like It. What Is It?’
We are delighted to open the call for proposals for our new residency programme supported by Jerwood Arts and delivered in collaboration with a community of MAYK associated artists and producers.
I Like It. What Is It? will make space for up to four artists or companies making experimental live performance to explore ‘boomerang’ ideas – by this we mean the ones that won’t go away; that dance around your head, and haven’t had enough of a chance to see what they might want to be yet.
This is a chance to engage with ideas that feel challenging, elusive, or untameable, without being restricted by production schedules or expectations of what the thing is, before you know what the thing is. Do we ever know what the thing is?
As curators and producers we are interested in supporting wild and beautiful ideas, and in really paying attention to creating environments (physically and intellectually) that allow us to slow down, to breathe, to prioritise playfulness, rigour and care.
There’s no restriction on form or theme. It’s a space to play.
I Like It. What Is It? will run until the end of 2024, and we will stagger each residency across that time to include time in our MAYKING space as well as building a dialogue and support network that stretches to where you are too.
The programme centres 'slow' working, which resists hyper-productivity in favour of depth of experience.
We are committed to removing barriers for artists who identify as D/deaf or disabled and will cover access costs wherever necessary.
What’s important here is that we will design the process with you, and it can shift as we go, if you need it to. It’s a collaboration.
As part of the residency we will also build moments to bring resident artists together to share ideas, challenges and build connections with our broader network. The residencies will be supported by our wider MAYK ‘family’ who will be part of selection and be there as we go as mentors, critical friends, and general mischief makers.
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Please thoroughly read the criteria for this residency before considering applying.
I Like It. What Is It? is for artists who:
Are working in live performance and who define as interdisciplinary or working at the edges of form.
Want to explore an idea that has not yet had significant support. But still keeps coming back to you.
Have no less than five and no more than ten years professional experience working in live performance (we know this is a blurry area, so just tell us how you fit into that)
Are UK based, or primarily based in the UK.
Have not had a producing relationship with MAYK in the past (by this we mean have not been directly produced by us. If you’ve been in Mayfest or another presenting context that’s fine)
The offer:
£8k bursary
Access costs covered wherever necessary
Flexible access to our accessible MAYKING space
Creative mentoring and support
Access to extensive UK and international networks
Flexible access to desk space in our Bristol office
Festival pass for Mayfest 2024
Invitation to contribute to wider curatorial conversations around our programme
Hosted sharings
Accommodation/travel for artists based outside of Bristol
How to apply:
We want to make this as easy as possible, so we’re not going to ask for pages of information or budgets at this stage, we just want to know:
Who you are and what your practice is
You can do this by writing no more than 500 words or as an audio file or film of no more than four minutes. Use the format that will support the best articulation of who you are as an artist.
Please also submit one link to either your website or a recording of your work in the field provided.
The idea that you want to play with
We’ve said there are no restrictions on form here, but do take a moment to have a look at what we do and have done in the past so that you can get a sense of whether we are likely to be a good fit for what you want to explore. Tell us about your idea by writing no more than 500 words or as an audio file of film of no more than four minutes.
Please submit your proposal via the form at this link.
Please also fill out an anonymous equal opportunities survey.
Deadline for submissions: 11.59pm Monday 10th April 2023
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What will happen next:
We will read/watch/listen to all applications that are eligible and will respond to all applicants week beginning 1st May 2023.
This process will be led by us, Kate and Matthew working alongside 2/3 artists.
If you have any questions at all regarding the programme or the application process then please don’t hesitate to contact us on matthewandkate@mayk.org.uk
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can we apply as a creative duo / as a company?
Yes, absolutely.
We have been working in live performance between 5 - 10 years, but our collaboration is brand new - can we still apply?
Yes!
We are a new collaboration and we don’t have a website together, can we provide a link for each artist?
Yes.
Am I ineligible to apply if I have been part of a residency programme or wider project MAYK has been involved in?
No – we are only exempting artists with whom we have or have had a producing relationship with.
Can I apply if I live in another country?
No. If you spend your time between the UK and somewhere else, that is okay – as long as you are making and presenting work in the UK.
Is the length of engagement two years per artist/ company?
This is a flexible residency that we will design with you. We expect to be in dialogue with residents across the span of the programme but know that how and when different ways of working land will differ artist to artist.
Can I apply with more than one project?
You can only make one proposal with yourself as lead artist.
What does ‘no less than five and no more than ten years professional experience working in live performance’ mean?
We’re aware that this is a slightly blurry area so please use your intuition here and feel free to include any details you feel are relevant in your proposal. If it is clear to you, that it has been more than 5 and less than 10 accumulated years, since the date you consider starting ‘professional work in live performance’, then you would be eligible. We trust that you know when your practice began professionally. We would expect that for this time you would have been practicing in live performance. If you have worked in a very different art form for longer, and only worked in live performance between 5 – 10 years, then you are still eligible.
What do you mean by ‘an idea that has not yet had significant support’?
We appreciate that this is also blurry. What’s important is that the idea aligns with the purpose of the residency. The residency is aimed at supporting ‘boomerang ideas’ – the ones that won’t go away; that dance around your head, and haven’t had enough of a chance to see what they might want to be yet. So it’s important that the idea hasn’t been on a bit of a journey already. Although, this doesn’t mean that the idea can’t have been explored a little. For example, a week’s R&D thinking about the idea and experimenting a little isn’t a problem. But if the idea has been commissioned, then it would be.
Do I need to provide a budget, timeline or my access requirements?
No. At this stage we are only interested in hearing about your idea.
Can I be applying for other funding for this idea?
Yes. Its only important that, at the time of you applying, the idea hasn’t had significant support already,
Do you provide financial support towards making an application, for access requirements?
Unfortunately we don’t have financial support towards access, at this stage. We have tried to make the application as simple as possible. We are only asking for the answers to two questions.
Is the deadline Sunday or Monday?
The deadline is midnight after 11.59pm on Monday 10th April.
Is the money funded by Arts Council?
No, this project is funded by Jerwood Arts.
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About MAYK
MAYK is one of the country’s leading live performance producing organisations. Based in Bristol but working internationally, we create dynamic meeting points for participation in world-class live performance both in and out of traditional art spaces.
Led by Kate Yedigaroff and Matthew Austin, MAYK was established in 2011 and continues to make a space for a holistic, long-term approach to creating memorable experiences that are accessible to lots of people.
“The value of having MAYK as producers for my work has been immeasurable. From the intangible to the practical, the support afforded to me through working with MAYK has been and continues to be essential in fostering my growth as an artist.”
— Dan Canham
About Jerwood Arts
Jerwood Arts are the leading independent funder dedicated to supporting artists, makers, curators and producers to develop and thrive across the UK. They collaborate with organisations across artforms, disciplines and genres to create transformative opportunities and a more sustainable sector.